Samal, Bataan

Samal, officially the Municipality of Samal (Filipino: Bayan ng Samal; Kapampangan: Balen ning Samal), is a municipality in the province of Bataan in the Central Luzon (Region III) of the Philippines. The population was 35,298 at the 2015 census. In the 2016 electoral roll, it had 24,317 registered voters.

Samal is situated in the north-eastern portion of Bataan, 111 kilometres (69 mi) away from Manila. It has a total land area of 56.30 square kilometres (21.74 sq mi).

Etymology and history
Samal originated from samel, a covering attached to a banca to protect the passengers from the sun and rain, made of nipa leaves and woven together.

Saint Catherine of Sienna became the patron of Samal, which was founded as a municipality on April 20, 1941.

"Sea gypsies" of Mindanao settlers ("Badjaos" who resided for many years in Maubac, Lambayung, Tanjung, Pata, Tapul, Lugus, Bangos, Pagasinan, Parang, Maimbung, Karugdung and Talipaw, Mindanao) migrated to Luzon in the early 14th century and settled in Bataan. In Samal, they propagated the pearl and capiz culture.

Samal was the second town founded by the Dominican friars in Bataan and is composed of four barrios: Calaguiman, Santa Lucia, Poblacion and Lalawigan.